Can-testing apparatus.



No. 725,589; I P TBNTED APR. 14, 1903 J. G. & '0. REHFUSS.

(JAN TESTING APPARATUS.

v APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1902. N0 MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

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CAN TESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1902. N0 MODEL. .4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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. PATENTED APR. 14, 1,903

J. G. & M. 0. REHFUSS.

CAN TESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1902.

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No, 725,5 39.- PATENTED APR, 14; 1903. J'. G, 6: M. 0. REHFUSS. CAN TESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 56, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4' KO MODEL.

m: noRms PETERS cow. PNOTOLITHJA. WASHINGTON, a. C

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

JOHN G. REHFUSS AND MARTIN O. REHFUSS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VAN IA, ASSIGNORS TO BUREAU CAN AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DELAWARE.

CAN-TESTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 725,589, dated April 14, 1903 Application filed July 26, 1902. Serial No. 117,173. (No model.)

To all whom it may co ce longitudinal sectional view through a testing Be it known thatwe, JOHN G. REHFUSS and member or-suction-cup with valve and stem MARTIN O. REHFUSS, citizens of the United connections therewith, showing a can held to States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county the suction-cu p. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, view of the mechanism employed for breakhave invented certain newand useful Iming the vacuum which holds a perfectly-solprovements in Can-Testing Machines; and we dered can to the carrier, allowing the can to do declare the following to be a'full, clear, be discharged from the carrier. Fig. 5 is a and exact description of the invention, such detail view showing the means for tilting one [0 as willenable others skilled in'the art to which of the pockets or shelves adapted toreceive it appertains to make and use the 'same,-refa can as it falls from a suction-cup. Figs. 6 erence being had to the accompanying drawand 7 are detail views. ings, and to the letters of reference marked Reference now being had to the details of thereon, which forma part of this specificathe drawings by letter, A A designate stand- 15 tion. ards in which a shaft B is journaled in suit- This invention relates to new and useful able bearings, and keyed to said shaft is a improvements in can-testing apparatus, and sprocket-wheel B,about which an endlessespecially in the provision of means for de-. chain carrier 0 travels, which carrier passes termining whether or not a can leaks-after over a second sprocket-wheel C,-wl1'ich is 20 having been soldered, and comprises mechkeyed to rotate with shaft 0 mounted in anism for automatically applying a can to a suitable bearings Cicarried bythe hangers C suction-cup with which communication is had which latter are adapted to be fastened to any with a vacuum-chamber for exhausting the stationary member, asto the ceiling of aroom. air in the can, the latter being adapted to be Each of the links of said chain isprovided .25 carried on an endless conveyor while held by with arms D, and each link, which carries two suction, said can being adapted to drop from of said arms, has mounted therein a testing the cup in case any air is allowed to enter the 'member comprising a hollow tubular portion can, thus indicating an imperfectly-soldered D', having a suction-cup D fastened to one seam, while means are provided for automatend and having communication with said 0 ically detaching a perfectly-soldered can from hollow tubular portion. Said suction-cup D the carrier. v has preferably'an annular recess in its flaring The present invention consists in various face, as illustrated by D in Fig. 3 of the drawdetails of construction and combinations of ings, said annular recess having a cushion D parts, as will be hereinafter fully described seated therein, which is adapted to contact 5 and then specifically defined in the appended with the end of a can about the filling-aperclaims. ture in the head thereof when a can is forced Our invention is clearly illustrated in the against said cushion. Mounted in the ends accompanying drawings, which, with the letof said tubular portion are perforated partiters of reference marked thereon, form a part tions d, which are centrally apertured to re- 0 of this application, and in which drawings .ceiveaspring-actuated piston-stem D which 0 similar letters of reference indicate like parts piston-stem has a collar 01 at one end keyed in the various views, in whichor otherwise fastened thereto, and interposed Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved between said collar d and the adjacent per-' testing apparatus, the endless carrier being forated partition d is a-coiled spring d which 45 broken away and showing the sprocket-wheel is adapted to normally hold the piston-stem 5 over which the carrier travels. Fig. 2 is a in the position shown in solid lines in the side elevation of the construction illustrated drawings. The other end of the piston-stem in Fig. 1,-the carrier being broken away in a carries a flexible valve D which is adapted similar manner as illustrated in Fig. 1, parts to be held by said spring in contact with the 0 being shown in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a end of the tubular portion of the testing memfoo ber. Said flexible valve D is preferably seated in a recessed head D having a flanged end D, "as shown, which latter portion extends outside of a cup D which is fastened to the circumference of the tubular portion of the testing member, as shown. Keyed to each tubular portion D is a collar D intermediate which and an arm D, carried by the link, is disposed a spring D which is provided for the purpose of holding the testing member, having a suction-cup mounted on the end thereof in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and in a proper position to receive a can, which is automatically forced against a cushion mounted in the recess in the suction-cup.

Mounted in a suitable standard forming a portion of the frame of the machine isaspringactuated member E, which has a cup E upon one end thereof, the flaring portion of which cup has an annular shoulder, in which is seated a flexible cushion E which is adapted to form a close connection between the cup D when the two come together under pres sure, as will be understood. A spring is interposed between the inner end of the shank portion of said member E and the end wall of a boxing in which said member has a reciprocating movement, and a bore or duct E leads from said cup E and opens through an aperture in the circumference of said member E near its inner end, said duct or bore being adapted to register with a duct E leading from the boxing or casing in which the shank portion E has a reciprocating movement, when said cup E is forced inward againstthe tension of said spring. Said duct E communicates through a pipe E with a vacuum-tank E, from which the air may be exhausted by any suitable means. (Not shown.) V

Mounted to rotate with the shaft B is a wheel G, having a cam-groove G in the circumference thereof, and G designates an 051- i cillating lever, which is pivoted at one end on a pin G3 and carries a plate H, having a stud II, which is suitably mounted in an aperture in said lever. One face of said plate 11 is provided with a flange h, adapted to receive the flanged end of a can, which is fed against the same in any suitable manner from a canmaking machine. 'The upper end of the lever Gr carries an antifriction-roller G, which is adapted to travel in said cam-groove G, as shown clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Mounted on the main operating-shaft I is an angle-lever I, each end of which lever carries an antifriction roller or wheel I In the drawings I have shown said lever made with the arms thereon substantially at right angles to each other, and mounted on a shaft K is a wheel K, having four radial slots K equidistant and of such a width as to receive the :tntifriction-wheels 1 carried at the ends of the arms I. Keyed to the'shaft K is a gearwheel K which is in mesh with a gear-wheel K, which is keyed to rotate with the shaft B and the sprocket-wheel which rotates therewith. By the provision of the slotted wheel K, which is actuated by means of the antifriction-wheels carried by said angle-lever, it will be noted that an intermittent movement is imparted to the endless carrier for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Keyed to the shaft B is a cam-wheel L, having an undulating cam-groove L, as illustrated, in which an antifriction wheel N, which is journaled on an arm N integral with the pivoted lever 0, travels. Said lever O is pivotally mounted on a pin 0', carried on the standard of the machine, and at the free end of said lever is formed a concaved finger P. Fastened to each link are two pockets or shelves Q and Q, the former of which are rigidly held to the link, while each of said pockets or shelves Q hasa tilting movement. Projecting from each of the pivotal portions of the tiltin pockets is a lug Q projecting at" an angle from the inner margin of the carrier, and the upper portion of the finger upon i the lever O is adapted to contact with each of said lugs as a link carrying one of said lugs comes opposite the upper end of the lever 0 and as the finger P is thrown 'away from the cam-wheel L, said lever being thrown by means of the antifriction-wheel N, which travels about the cam-surface thereof. Said pockets, both the stationary and the pivotal ones, are provided for the purpose of catching a can should the same be found to contain a leak, whether the can should happen to fall from the suction-cup when being elevated upon one side of the carrier or being carried down on the opposite side.

Mounted upon a stationary portion of the frame is an arm R, the end of which is adapted to project into the path of the flanged end D of the head D whereby as each testing member passes said arm R the inclined edge of the latter is adapted to contact with the inner face of the flange D and unseat the cushion or valve 1) sufficiently to allow the vacuum in the can which is held by the suction-cup to break, which will cause the can thus held to a suction-cup to fall by gravity therefrom. An arm 0 is formed on the lever 0 at a position intermediate the free end of said lever and itspivotal portion and is adapted to contact with a can which has been released from the suction-cup by breaking the vacuum therein and is designed to push the can away from the carrier and into a chute S, which may be set at an inclination and adapted to carry away the canfrom the testing apparatus. Immediately above the chute into which the cans which have stood the test are deposited is a chute T, into which the imperfect cans or those which have been found to contain leaks are deposited by means of the fingerP at the upper end of said leverO.

The operation of our can-testingapparatus is as follows: The cans to which the tops and bottoms have been attached are fed by any suitable means to locations in which the cans singly contact with the flanged plate H. As the cam-Wheel G "rotatesa lever G yhaving an antifriction-wheel traveling in the groove of the circumference thereof, is caused" to oscillate, which-will throw the can againstthe cushion held in the annular recess-in the suction-cup, and said lever G forcing the can under pressure against the suction-cup,

will cause the latter to yield, and the tubu-j lar portion thereof will move longitudinally under tension of the spring D and the cup D will come into close air-tight contact with the cup E and pushing upon the latter'will cause theduct in the shank portion thereof to register with the duct E ,.which communicates with the vacuum-chamber. Ou'r mechanism is so adjusted that at the moment a the lever G forces the suction-cup longitudinally, so that theducts E and E will register, the endless carrier and the operative parts of our apparatus are momentarily at rest. The interval-of rest, which may amount to a small fractional part of a second, is suf-j ficient for a vacuum to be formed in the can, which is held against the cushion upon the suction-cup. This intermittent movement is" provided for through the medium of the an gle-lever 'I, which has antifriction -wheels mounted at the ends thereof, which are adapted to'register in-two of the slots of the wheel K,thusimparting aone-halfrevolution thereto, after which'there is a pause in the operation of the machine until the shaft carrying the angle-wheel makesa one-half revolution to bring the antifriction-rollers carried thereby into the succ'eeclingslot-s of the wheel. The movements of thevarious parts of our apparatus are so predetermined that'at-the instant the vacuum isformed in theoan the machine is put in operation. After a Vacuum hasbeen formed ina can the pl'ate'H willbe thrown from the can on the outward throw ofthe lever G connection between the two cups D and Ewill be-broken by means ofthe coiled spring D and the cushion or valve mounted on the stem, which'has a spring-ac? tuated reciprocating movement in thetubularportion'of the testing member,-will seat,-

thus retaining the vacuum in the can, and the cau'will be carried clinging to the suctionc-up as the carrier makes a'rotation; By the provision of the pockets or shelves one m'ou-hted on'eaoh side of a testing member or suc--' tion-cup provision is had for'catching acan should it happen to drop from the suction cupby. reason of the vacuum breaking should there be a leak in the can. By conveying the canthus'held to a suitable distance up one side of the carrier and down the other-a sufficient time is provided for the vacuum in the can to break if there should be a minute aperture in the can. On the downward travel of the cans they are carried over by the suetion-cup, or in'case of there being adefective or leaky can and the same dropping from the cupupon the shelf underneath the same, when the lugs Q on the pivoted p'ocketsreach a location opposite the upper end of the lever O, the latter is thrown away from the cam-wheel L, andthe upper portion of the finger P ispr'e sented in the'path of the lug,' and the latter striking said finger will tilt the pocket and the impact of the finger against the link will throw the defective can in which the leak has been discovered intothe trough T. A perfectlysoldered can which has been thoroughly tested and no leak foundtherein will continue traveling with the suction cup until" the flanged end D ,'which -forms a part ofthe stein D comes into contact with the inclined end of the stationary arm B, and'at which moment the valve or cushion D will be thrown away from its seat, allowing air to enter the tubular portion of the testing] member and the suction-cu p carried thereby, thuis'causing' the vacuum to instantly break, and simultav neously with this movement the arm 0 will strike the body of the canand force thesame awayfrom the carrier intothe trough my chute S. i

While we have illustrated means for im parting an intermittent movement toxthe mechanism by the provisionfof the angle-lever with two arms having antifriction-rollers for giving the wheel'with slots therein a onehalf revolution, it will be understood that if desired .to vary the movements an additional arm or arms may be provided forsecuri'ng any variations in the intervals 'at whichthe machine is at'rest, and it will also -be understood that various other modifications may" departing.

W be made in our machine without from "the spirit of thein'vention.

what we claim as new; and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A can testihg machine comprisingan endless carrier, suction-cups mounted on said carrier and adapted to have a longitudinal movement thereon; means for forcing cans against said cups'an'd throwingithe same into. communication with" a vacuum tank; and

means for breaking connection with said tank,

after the air has been'exhausted from the can, assetforth.

r '1 2. A can-testing machine comprising an endless chain carrier, ,[SUOlZlOIli-ODPS having Having thus fully described our invention,-

'lOC

hollow spring-actuated shank portionsjinohnted on'said carrier, an'oscillating la m, and means 'for operating the same whereby said arm will throw a can "against said suction- 5 cup and move the'cup into communication with-a vacuum-tank,- as set forth.

3.A can-testing machine comprising'fan endless carrier, suction-cupsh'aving hollow. sprin'g-actuatedshank' portions mounted on saidcarrierand having aflongitudinalmovef ment, a vacuun1-tank,a spring-actuated cjup having a hollow shank portion 'adapted to be;

thrown into communication with a passageway leading to said tank, an oscillatin'gjarm;

and means for'o'perating the same whereby a can'is forced against said suction-cup and adapted to move the latterso as to opencommunication with the vacuum -tank, as set forth.

4:. A can-testing machine comprising an endless carrier, suction-cups carried thereby and having hollow shank portions which are spring-actuated, a vacuum-tank, means for imparting an intermittent movement to the carrier, and means for forcing a can against a suction -cup and opening communication with the vacuum-tank while the carrier is at rest, as set forth.

5. A can-testingwmachine comprising an endless carrier having an intermittent movement and means for operating the same, suction cups having hollow spring actuated shank portions mounted thereon, an oscillating arm, and means for operating the same, wherebya can is pushed by said arm against the suction-cup and imparts a longitudinal movement to the shank portion of said cup to open communication with the vacuum-tank while the carrier is at rest, as set forth.

6. A can-testing machine comprising an endless carrier having an intermittent movement and means for operating the same, suction cups having hollow spring actuated shank portions mounted thereon, an oscillating arm adapted to force a can against said cup and impart a longitudinal movement to the shank portion of the suction-cup,whereby communication is had between the can and a vacuum-tank, while the carrier is at rest, and means for cutting off communication with the vacuum-tank as the carrier starts, as set forth.

7. A can-testing machine comprising an endless carrier, suction-cups having hollow spring-actuated shank portions carried by said carrier, a vacuum -tank, an oscillating arm, a plate carried thereby and adapted to contact with the end of a can to force the latter against said cup and move the shank portion of the cup longitudinally, whereby communication may be had between the can and the vacuum-tank, and means for cutting ofi communication with the vacuum-tank after the air has been exhausted from the can, as set forth.

8: A can-testing machine comprising an endless carrier, suction-cups mounted thereon and having hollow spring-actuated shank portions, a vacuum-tank, an oscillating arm, an antifriction-roller carried thereby, a camgrooved wheel in which said roller is mounted, a flanged plate having a stud mounted in said arm, andadapted to contact with a can to force the same against said cup and impart a longitudinal movement to the shank portion thereof, whereby communication may be had with said vacuum-tank for the purpose of ex-- hausting the air in the can, as set forth.

9. A can-testing machine comprising an endless carrier, suction-cups having springactuated hollow shank portions mounted thereon, a wheel having radial slots, an anglelever, a shaft on which the same is mounted, antifriction-rollers carried by the arms of said lever and adapted to engage said slots to impart an intermittent rotary movement to said Wheel, and geared connections between the latter and the endless carrier, an oscillating arm for throwing a can against the suctioncup and actuating the shank portion thereof longitudinally, whereby communication is had with the vacuum-tank when the carrier is at rest, as set forth.

10. A can-testing machine having an end less carrier, suction-cups having hollow shank portions mounted to have alongitudinal movement on said carrier, a spring-actuated valvestem mounted within the shankportionof each suction-cup, a valve secured to said stem and adapted to be seated against one end of said shank portion, a flanged cup secured to said shank portion and about said valve,a vacu umtank, a spring-actuated cup mounted upon a standard and having a duct adapted to register with the duct in the passage-way leading to said vacuum-tank, and an oscillating arm for forcing a can against the suction-cup, and actuating the shank portion of the latter to afiord communication with said vacuum-tank, as set forth.

11. A can-testing machine comprising an endless-chain carrier, suctioncups carried thereby, an oscillating arm for forcing a can against said cup and means for exhausting the air from the can, and means for breaking the vacuum formed within the can, as set forth.

12. A can-testing machine comprising an endless carrier, suction-cups carried thereby and having hollow shank portions, a springactuated valve mounted in the shank portion of each of said cups, a stationary member which is adapted to contact with and actuate the stem of said valve, whereby the vacuum formed in the can is broken, as set forth.

13. A can-testing machine, comprising an endless carrier, suction-cups having springactuated shank portions mounted to have a longitudinal movement thereon, a spring-actuated valve-stem mounted in each of said shank portions, a valve secured to each stem and adapted to seat against the end of the shank portion of the suction-cup, a flanged head on said stem,-means for forcing a can against said suction-cup and actuating the same to afiord communication between the same and the suction-cup whereby air is exhausted from the can, a stationary member disposed in the path of the flange of said head and adapted to unseat said valve to allow the vacuum formed within the can to break, as set forth.

14. A can-testing machine comprising an endless-chain carrier, suction-cups having hollow spring-actuated shank portions mount- .ed thereon, an oscillating lever for forcing a can against said suction-cup and imparting a longitudinal movement to the shank portion thereof, whereby communication is had with a vacuum-tank for exhausting the air in the can, a spring-actuated stem mounted in each shank portion of the suction-cup, a valve mounted on said stem and adapted to seat against the end of the shank portion of the suction-cup, a flanged head mounted on said stem, a stationary plate disposed in the path of said flanged head and adapted to unseat said valve for breaking the vacuum in the can, and an oscillating arm for throwing the can from the carrier after the vacuum is broken, as set forth.

15. A can-testing machine comprising an endless carrier, suctioncups having hollow spring actuated shank portions mounted thereon, an oscillating arm for forcing a can against said cup and imparting alongitudi nal movement to the shank portion thereof, whereby communication is had with a vacuum-tank for exhausting the air in the'can, pivotal shelves carried by the carrier, an oscillating lever, and means for throwing the same so that a portion of said lever will tilt a shelf and discharge a can from the carrier, as set forth.

16. A can-testing machine comprising an endless carrier, suction-cups mounted thereon, means for forcing a can against said suction-cup, and exhausting the air therefrom, pivotal shelves carried by said carrier, each having a projecting lug, an oscillating lever having a curved finger at its free end which is adapted to be thrown into the path of said lug at a predetermined moment and cause the shelf to tilt, and to contact with the carrier and discharge the can byimpact with the carrier, as set forth.

17. A can-testing machine comprising an endless carrier, suction-cups mounted thereon and means for forcing a can against a sucan oscillating lever havingtwo arms, an antifriction roller carried by said lever, a grooved cam in which said roller travels,and means for actuating said grooved cam, whereby said lever is thrown forward at a predetermined moment to discharge cans from the carrier, as set forth.

19. A suction-cup having a hollow shank portion, a cushion seated in the flanged portion of the cup, a spring-actuated stem mounted in said shank portion, and a cup at the opposite end, a valve mounted on said stem and adapted to seat against the end of the shank portion, a head on said stem having a flange at its end, and a recessed portion in which said valve is seated, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. REHFUSS. MARTIN O. REHFUSS.

Witnesses:

J. B. JARDELLA, SAMUEL A. BAVIS. 

